Cosmetic Dentists in Farnham, Surrey
Call us on: 01252 713797
Oral Hygiene
Keeping your teeth clean and gums disease free is vital for your long-term health. Working in partnership with your dentist, our team of hygienists provide vital support to your own home care regime.
Our hygienists can offer you advice on practical skills like tooth cleaning or flossing, but they will also closely monitor the health of your mouth and thoroughly deep clean your teeth.
For children and adults they can apply fissure sealants to the biting surfaces of healthy teeth and ensure that your hygiene regime protects your teeth if you’re fitted with a brace.
Our hygiene appointments are vital for your oral and general health. During your appointment, which will typically last between 45 minutes and one hour, the hygienist will give your teeth a professional deep clean including cleaning between them and below the gum line.
Gum disease is the most common disease in the human body. Initial symptoms include bad breath and sore, swollen or bleeding gums. With treatment it can be controlled, but if left untreated it can eventually lead to tooth loss. Recent research has shown that uncontrolled gum disease is closely linked to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and dementia.
Our hygienists are a vital part of the successful prevention and treatment of gum disease and play an important role in supporting your home care routine.
During your appointment the hygienist will:
Gum disease is the most common disease in the human body. Initial symptoms include bad breath and sore, swollen or bleeding gums. With treatment it can be controlled, but if left untreated it can eventually lead to tooth loss. Recent research has shown that uncontrolled gum disease is closely linked to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, diabetes and dementia.
Our hygienists are a vital part of the successful prevention and treatment of gum disease and play an important role in supporting your home care routine.
During your appointment the hygienist will:
- Check your medical history and ask you about any problems or concerns you have.
- Discuss your oral health, this could include the treatment and prevention of gum (periodontal) disease, receding gums or tooth wear.
- Offer oral hygiene advice, including tuition in tooth brushing technique.
- Check the appearance of your gums, to look for any plaque or bleeding.
- Remove any hard deposits (calculus) and stain by scaling your teeth.
- Polish your teeth.
Alongside the routine checks and treatment the dentist provides for your children, our hygienists can offer some extra education, support and protection, to contribute to their overall dental care:
Fissure sealant
Fissure sealant is a clear, resin film, which can be applied to the biting surface of healthy molar teeth. Fissure sealants are quick and painless to apply. The hygienist cleans and dries the tooth before applying the sealent and ‘curing’ it with a special blue light. The sealant provides a smooth surface that is easy to clean. Children with sealant should continue to brush with a fluoride toothpaste and have their teeth regularly checked by their dentist.
Support during orthodontic treatment
Many children have orthodontic treatment during their early teens. Wearing a fixed brace makes it harder to clean your teeth properly and provides many nooks and crannies where food can get trapped.
One common side-effect of poor cleaning is decalcification. An excessive build-up of plaque, normally around the brace fixings, leaches the calcium from teeth. Eventually this can lead to decay, which is first visible as chalky, white patches on the surface of the teeth, left untreated these patches develop into dark stained cavities in the surface of the tooth.
Our hygienists can support your teenager, offering advice and practical demonstrations to help them manage their own oral hygiene whilst wearing a brace. Regular hygiene appointments, throughout their orthodontic treatment and after the brace is removed, will help to ensure that the end result is a straight, healthy smile they can be proud of!
Fissure sealant
Fissure sealant is a clear, resin film, which can be applied to the biting surface of healthy molar teeth. Fissure sealants are quick and painless to apply. The hygienist cleans and dries the tooth before applying the sealent and ‘curing’ it with a special blue light. The sealant provides a smooth surface that is easy to clean. Children with sealant should continue to brush with a fluoride toothpaste and have their teeth regularly checked by their dentist.
Support during orthodontic treatment
Many children have orthodontic treatment during their early teens. Wearing a fixed brace makes it harder to clean your teeth properly and provides many nooks and crannies where food can get trapped.
One common side-effect of poor cleaning is decalcification. An excessive build-up of plaque, normally around the brace fixings, leaches the calcium from teeth. Eventually this can lead to decay, which is first visible as chalky, white patches on the surface of the teeth, left untreated these patches develop into dark stained cavities in the surface of the tooth.
Our hygienists can support your teenager, offering advice and practical demonstrations to help them manage their own oral hygiene whilst wearing a brace. Regular hygiene appointments, throughout their orthodontic treatment and after the brace is removed, will help to ensure that the end result is a straight, healthy smile they can be proud of!
What is the best way to brush my teeth?
Proper brushing takes just two minutes, some electric toothbrushes indicate when this time has elapsed, otherwise you could consider investing in a simple timer or stopwatch. Use gentle, short strokes, paying extra attention to the gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings or crowns. Tilt your brush at 45° angle against your gumline and sweep or roll the brush away from your gums. For fresher breath you can finish by brushing your tongue too.
What type of toothbrush should I use?
We generally recommend a soft-bristled brush with a small head, allowing you to reach all the surfaces of your teeth including those at the back of your mouth. Many people find an electric toothbrush effective and convenient. Your hygienist will show you how to brush properly and may recommend specialist products to enhance your oral care regime.
How often should I replace my toothbrush?
Replace your toothbrush when it begins to show wear, or every three months, whichever is sooner. Some electric toothbrushes have indicator bristles, which fade as the brush head needs changing. The bristles in your toothbrush can collect germs, so it’s worth considering replacing your brush after you have recovered from a cold.
How important is the toothpaste I use?
It is important to use the right toothpaste for you. There are a wide variety of different toothpastes designed for a range of conditions including cavities, gingivitis, tartar, stained teeth and sensitivity. Your hygienist or dentist will recommend the most suitable toothpaste for you.
Is it better to floss before you brush your teeth or after you brush your teeth?
If you use a fluoride toothpaste, the fluoride can only benefit tooth enamel it comes into direct contact with. Flossing first removes any plaque on the surfaces between the teeth, allowing them to benefit from the fluoride too.
What is plaque?
Plaque is a naturally occurring film, which sticks to the surfaces of your teeth and gums. You cannot remove it with washing or rinsing, but it can be removed with flossing or brushing. Plaque contains a range of bacteria that can all cause dental decay, contribute to the formation of calculus (tartar), and cause periodontal disease.
How quickly does plaque reform after it has been removed?
Current research suggests that your mouth can remain plaque free for just five minutes after brushing and flossing! Effective plaque control is vital for good oral health and that’s why we recommend brushing and flossing at least twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening after eating and before you go to sleep.
What is calculus?
Calculus or tartar is a hard substance that forms when the minerals in your saliva combine with dead bacterial plaque cells. Under a microscope calculus looks like a coral reef and all the nooks and crannies are perfect for harbouring bacteria. Left untreated calculus can irritate your gums, causing bleeding and ulceration, until eventually destroying the gum and bone that provides vital support for your teeth.
How often should plaque and calculus be removed?
Even if you are tackling your plaque with good oral hygiene at home it’s still important to stick to the hygiene schedule your dentist recommends for you.
Should I consider changing my diet to help my teeth?
Sugar has been identified as a major factor in dental decay. Avoid sugary drinks and be aware that sugar occurs naturally in fruit and fruit juice too. Fizzy drinks, which combine sugar with acid can contribute to dental erosion and even diet brands are harmful. Still water is the best drink for teeth, milk can also be helpful as it can neutralise acids in your mouth. Chewing a sugar-free chewing gum for twenty minutes after a meal will produce more saliva, which can help to cancel out any acids in your mouth.
Proper brushing takes just two minutes, some electric toothbrushes indicate when this time has elapsed, otherwise you could consider investing in a simple timer or stopwatch. Use gentle, short strokes, paying extra attention to the gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth and areas around fillings or crowns. Tilt your brush at 45° angle against your gumline and sweep or roll the brush away from your gums. For fresher breath you can finish by brushing your tongue too.
What type of toothbrush should I use?
We generally recommend a soft-bristled brush with a small head, allowing you to reach all the surfaces of your teeth including those at the back of your mouth. Many people find an electric toothbrush effective and convenient. Your hygienist will show you how to brush properly and may recommend specialist products to enhance your oral care regime.
How often should I replace my toothbrush?
Replace your toothbrush when it begins to show wear, or every three months, whichever is sooner. Some electric toothbrushes have indicator bristles, which fade as the brush head needs changing. The bristles in your toothbrush can collect germs, so it’s worth considering replacing your brush after you have recovered from a cold.
How important is the toothpaste I use?
It is important to use the right toothpaste for you. There are a wide variety of different toothpastes designed for a range of conditions including cavities, gingivitis, tartar, stained teeth and sensitivity. Your hygienist or dentist will recommend the most suitable toothpaste for you.
Is it better to floss before you brush your teeth or after you brush your teeth?
If you use a fluoride toothpaste, the fluoride can only benefit tooth enamel it comes into direct contact with. Flossing first removes any plaque on the surfaces between the teeth, allowing them to benefit from the fluoride too.
What is plaque?
Plaque is a naturally occurring film, which sticks to the surfaces of your teeth and gums. You cannot remove it with washing or rinsing, but it can be removed with flossing or brushing. Plaque contains a range of bacteria that can all cause dental decay, contribute to the formation of calculus (tartar), and cause periodontal disease.
How quickly does plaque reform after it has been removed?
Current research suggests that your mouth can remain plaque free for just five minutes after brushing and flossing! Effective plaque control is vital for good oral health and that’s why we recommend brushing and flossing at least twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening after eating and before you go to sleep.
What is calculus?
Calculus or tartar is a hard substance that forms when the minerals in your saliva combine with dead bacterial plaque cells. Under a microscope calculus looks like a coral reef and all the nooks and crannies are perfect for harbouring bacteria. Left untreated calculus can irritate your gums, causing bleeding and ulceration, until eventually destroying the gum and bone that provides vital support for your teeth.
How often should plaque and calculus be removed?
Even if you are tackling your plaque with good oral hygiene at home it’s still important to stick to the hygiene schedule your dentist recommends for you.
Should I consider changing my diet to help my teeth?
Sugar has been identified as a major factor in dental decay. Avoid sugary drinks and be aware that sugar occurs naturally in fruit and fruit juice too. Fizzy drinks, which combine sugar with acid can contribute to dental erosion and even diet brands are harmful. Still water is the best drink for teeth, milk can also be helpful as it can neutralise acids in your mouth. Chewing a sugar-free chewing gum for twenty minutes after a meal will produce more saliva, which can help to cancel out any acids in your mouth.
You will be referred to our hygienist team by one of our dentists. A 45 minute hygiene appointment costs £87, a full hour appointment is £116. Your dentist and hygienist will recommend a schedule of hygiene treatment tailored to your individual needs.
